Guidebook for Zaandam
Essentials
Decent supermarket, nothing special. Opens 08:00 until 21:00 hrs. Just 150 meters away from our place.
Vomar Voordeelmarkt
23 E. HeimansstraatDecent supermarket, nothing special. Opens 08:00 until 21:00 hrs. Just 150 meters away from our place.
DEEN Supermarkets
29 EbbehoutOpens until 22:00 hrs. Sells "OV chipcard" in case you forgot it.
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XL AH Vrieschgroenstraat
5 VrieschgroenstraatOpens until 22:00 hrs. Sells "OV chipcard" in case you forgot it.
Wibaut Avondwinkel en Belhuis
82 Kepplerstraat If you're out of smokes. Open until midnight. 15 minute walk.
Large Turkish-owned shop, just 100 meters away. Large selection of veg, halal butchery and bakery. My dear Asian guests: When you will cook for me (as you will, of course) get your spices here!
Emrah Market XL
Large Turkish-owned shop, just 100 meters away. Large selection of veg, halal butchery and bakery. My dear Asian guests: When you will cook for me (as you will, of course) get your spices here!
Sightseeing
Open air museum and if you're into windmills, this is definately the place to go. And yes, I'm really proud of that heritage! Just 20 minutes away.
If I really like you I'll take you there at sunset (when the crowds have gone) and we can do some nice photography.
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Zaanse Schans
KraaienestOpen air museum and if you're into windmills, this is definately the place to go. And yes, I'm really proud of that heritage! Just 20 minutes away.
If I really like you I'll take you there at sunset (when the crowds have gone) and we can do some nice photography.
More windmills, but really beautiful ones and situated in a typical Dutch landscape of dykes, waterways, reeds and fields. Only accessible by car or bike.
Schermer
More windmills, but really beautiful ones and situated in a typical Dutch landscape of dykes, waterways, reeds and fields. Only accessible by car or bike.
The only wind-driven paper-mill still operational in the world! Built in 1692 and still making paper out of discarded textiles. Very last remnant of a proud heritage; At the end of the 17th century this area had 40 paper-mills.
Lo and behold: 200 copies of the "Declaration of Independence", printed by John Dunlap in 1776 and of which 26 copies still exist, were printed on paper manufactured by this windmill! So for my American guests; This is actually a no-brainer.
You can visit this iconic windmill "usually" between 10:00 and 16:00 but if the operator has something else to do you're just out of luck.
Easily accessible by bike or car, by public transport it takes abt. 50 minutes.
De Schoolmeester, Westzaan
3 GuispadThe only wind-driven paper-mill still operational in the world! Built in 1692 and still making paper out of discarded textiles. Very last remnant of a proud heritage; At the end of the 17th century this area had 40 paper-mills.
Lo and behold: 200 copies of the "Declaration of Independence", printed by John Dunlap in 1776 and of which 26 copies still exist, were printed on paper manufactured by this windmill! So for my American guests; This is actually a no-brainer.
You can visit this iconic windmill "usually" between 10:00 and 16:00 but if the operator has something else to do you're just out of luck.
Easily accessible by bike or car, by public transport it takes abt. 50 minutes.
Our only claim to historical fame in Zaandam Centre! Apparently Czar Peter the Great (Петр Великий) spent a few days here to learn shipbuilding. After which he went to Amsterdam, as you'll do :-)
His statue is on Dam Square.
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Czaar Peterhuisje
23 KrimpOur only claim to historical fame in Zaandam Centre! Apparently Czar Peter the Great (Петр Великий) spent a few days here to learn shipbuilding. After which he went to Amsterdam, as you'll do :-)
His statue is on Dam Square.
Parks & Nature
Check this album and you'll understand: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PMtmS2hm1xZOQzfF3
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Twiske
1 De NoorderlaaikCheck this album and you'll understand: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PMtmS2hm1xZOQzfF3
Heemtuin
74 HeijermansstraatOur natural coastal defences are the sand-dunes and you'll learn to appreciate them as you'll be staying about 2 meters (6 feet) below sea level at our place. Behind that is a strip of beautiful diverse forest and together with our broad, sandy beaches they combine to make a great nature area. Easily accessible by bike and car (paid parking, though).
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Noordhollands Duinreservaat
31 Zeeweg Our natural coastal defences are the sand-dunes and you'll learn to appreciate them as you'll be staying about 2 meters (6 feet) below sea level at our place. Behind that is a strip of beautiful diverse forest and together with our broad, sandy beaches they combine to make a great nature area. Easily accessible by bike and car (paid parking, though).
Our attempt to "recreate" wild nature in the Netherlands. Which doesn't actually work in a country with very limited space and without top-predators, other than us humans. Currently a political hot potato in NL as it has just been decided to cull about half the population of "big grazers" (wild horses, deer & wild cattle). Anyway, the wolf is back, after 137 years, so who knows. Definately worth a visit and the birds are great.
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Oostvaardersplassen (Natuurreservaat)
Our attempt to "recreate" wild nature in the Netherlands. Which doesn't actually work in a country with very limited space and without top-predators, other than us humans. Currently a political hot potato in NL as it has just been decided to cull about half the population of "big grazers" (wild horses, deer & wild cattle). Anyway, the wolf is back, after 137 years, so who knows. Definately worth a visit and the birds are great.
Right behind our house (30 meters). Nothing special, just a park, but if you are into jogging it's convenient.
Darwin Park
31 De WeerRight behind our house (30 meters). Nothing special, just a park, but if you are into jogging it's convenient.
Bird watching, kingfishers (if you're lucky). Typical Dutch landscape with water, reed and small islands.
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BEZOEKERSCENTRUM DE POELBOERDERIJ
106 VeerdijkBird watching, kingfishers (if you're lucky). Typical Dutch landscape with water, reed and small islands.
Yes, I list it here... Only open during a few weeks in spring, planning for 2019: 21-3 until 19-5. So be there!
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Keukenhof
166A StationswegYes, I list it here... Only open during a few weeks in spring, planning for 2019: 21-3 until 19-5. So be there!
Arts & Culture
Zaans Museum
7 SchansendProbably my favourite museum in Amsterdam. Forget Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, etc. This is the place where you'll understand how all this painting extrevaganza was paid for. And by no means only the East Asian trade or slavery (yes, we were quite big in that) but mainly the Baltic trade: Wheat, lumber, tar, fish, salt... pretty mundane stuff which paid for our colonial follies (and for that beautiful Amsterdam City Centre). Go there!
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Het Scheepvaartmuseum
1 KattenburgerpleinProbably my favourite museum in Amsterdam. Forget Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, etc. This is the place where you'll understand how all this painting extrevaganza was paid for. And by no means only the East Asian trade or slavery (yes, we were quite big in that) but mainly the Baltic trade: Wheat, lumber, tar, fish, salt... pretty mundane stuff which paid for our colonial follies (and for that beautiful Amsterdam City Centre). Go there!
Entertainment & Activities
Filmtheater De Fabriek
12 Jan SijbrandsteegMoviehouse with a great bar & good food.
Pathé Zaandam
140 HermitageShopping
Specialized in LP's. I had some guests from Israel who came specifically to Zaandam because of this place.
Coco Records
107 ZuiddijkSpecialized in LP's. I had some guests from Israel who came specifically to Zaandam because of this place.
Getting Around
Our bus stop, just 300 meters from our house. Bus 394 to/from Amsterdam Central Station (25 minutes), bus 395 to Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station (16 minutes) for your connection to Schiphol Airport (total 38 minutes).
Dodonaeusstraat
DodonaeusstraatOur bus stop, just 300 meters from our house. Bus 394 to/from Amsterdam Central Station (25 minutes), bus 395 to Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station (16 minutes) for your connection to Schiphol Airport (total 38 minutes).